Hurricane Matthew aftermath and serious warnings

Well, Myrtle Beach. We made it through. The storm is far away from here and we’re dealing with Hurricane Matthew aftermath. That word “aftermath” means something different for all of us.

Our family was lucky. While we didn’t lose power other than a few flickers, we did lose trees. One in front of our house and another in the back. The one in front fell parallel to the house and the very top landed on the roof of the garage. Our daughter saw it fall and said it was slow and gentle. Fingers crossed that when we have it removed, there’s minimal or no damage to that roof.

The tree in the back had been a source of stress in previous storms and finally gave up. I was terrified that one would hit our bedroom or the screened porch, but somehow it managed to fall to a mere rest on the playground without damaging it. What are the odds of that? Overall, I feel very fortunate.

Others weren’t so lucky and I know you’ve seen those videos of burned homes in Cherry Grove and missing piers in Surfside and Myrtle Beaches. So incredibly sad.

I’m writing to give you a few words of warning on how to proceed from here.

Hurricane Matthew aftermath safety tips

Stay at home as much as possible. Roads are flooded, power lines are down, trees that are uprooted but still standing can fall with even the slightest gust, and traffic lights are down – like literally no longer exist. So if you’re driving in an unfamiliar area, you may not even realize you’re approaching an intersection that had one. If you MUST go out, use EXTREME caution.

Be patient. Even those who are grinding away to restore power are dealing with their own property damage. Just know they’re working incredibly hard to make things better for you. Be nice.

Realize that there are folks in worse situations than you. I guarantee my trees won’t be removed for days, maybe even a week. The tree companies will be working to take away trees who are through people’s roofs before they get to mine. I understand that.

Check on your neighbors. See if they need anything, especially the elderly.

Use common sense. We are in a state of emergency. I know you’re going stir-crazy AND it’s always interesting to get out to sight-see, but don’t. You’re in the way of those trying to keep us safe and might end up in pickle yourself.

And the most important words or wisdom I have…

STAY OUT OF FLOOD WATERS!

I can’t say this enough. Don’t wade in it to see how deep it is. Don’t let your pets in it or drink from it. It’s filled with bacteria that can make you very, very sick. Last year Horry County schools were riddled with Shigellosis that just wouldn’t go away. It’s highly contagious, causes diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, and is quite serious. Waterbourne illness is no joke.

The bubbling in this photo is a manhole cover that’s overflowing. The area smells horribly of sewage.

Be safe, my friends. Everyone dealing with Hurricane Matthew aftermath is in my thoughts and prayers.

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A note from Melissa

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